LEINSTER SFC ‘A’ ROUND-UP
Dublin sides win
IT proved to be a positive week for Dublin schools in the Leinster Senior Football ‘A’ Championship, as St Benildus College and St Aidan’s CBS joined Colaiste Eoin at the quarter-final stage following their respective victories over Knockbeg College and St Joseph’s, Rochfortbridge.
Benildus had impressed during their comprehensive opening round triumph against Moate CS, but given the pedigree of Knockbeg – they were All-Ireland schools champions as recently as 2005 – it was always going to be a close encounter in Carlow.
However, the influential attacking trio of Tom Keane, Joseph Rafferty and Tom Fox ensured that the Kilmacud side led by 0-5 to 0-3 at the break, and another fine score by Keane increased their cushion when the action resumed.
Scores were few and far between as the second-half progressed, but courtesy of a 57th-minute Keane goal, Benildus secured a hard-earned 1-7 to 0-5 win.
Like Benildus, Aidan’s had received a bye into the second round of the championship, and a second half goal from Adam Conway was decisive in their 1-11 to 0-10 success against Joseph’s. Conway was a member of the Aidan’s team during their successful Dublin Schools’ SF ‘A’ Championship campagn last January, and although Jamie Rooney and Ned Cully were on target for Joseph’s prior to the interval, Paddy Small (brother of Dublin footballer John) and James Doran were in exceptional form for Aidan’s.
The central attacking duo registered a combined tally of 0-8 for the Whitehall outfit, and following excellent work by Cian Gerrard in the 51st-minute, Conway scored the only major of the contest.
Compiled by Daire Walsh